What is Cartography? - Canadian Cartographic Association What is Cartography? Canadian Cartographic Association Careers in Cartography What is Cartography? The International Cartographic Association defines cartography as the discipline dealing with the conception, production, dissemination and study of maps. Cartography is also about representation – the map. This means that cartography is the whole process of mapping. Cartography is a complex, an ever-changing field, but at the center of it is the map-making process. Viewed in the broadest sense, this process includes everything from the gathering, evaluation and processing of source data, through the intellectual and graphical design of the map, to the drawing and reproduction of the final document. As such, it is a unique mixture of science, art and technology and calls for a variety of in-depth knowledge and skills on the part of the cartographer. Sometimes one person directs this entire sequence of cartographic activities, but this occurs only in relatively simple cases. In the creation of a map, it is much more common for the various tasks to be split up and accomplished by several individuals. Cartography is much more than just map-making, however. It is also an academic discipline in its own right.

It has its own professional associations (regional, national and international), journals, conferences, educational programs and its own identity. As a discipline, it embraces not only cartographers who make maps, but also cartographers who teach about maps and cartographers who do research on maps. Once seen as the products of a relatively straightforward practical exercise, maps are now viewed as complex intellectual images offering a rich potential for scientific investigation. Whether the thrust of the research is cognitive, mathematical, historical, perceptual or technological, cartographers are exploiting this potential to the fullest. Cartography today has two essential characteristics. First of all, it is important. Maps perform a fundamental and indispensable role as one of the underpinnings of civilization. Few activities relating to the earth’s surface, whether land use planning, property ownership, weather forecasting, road construction, locational analysis, emergency response, forest management, mineral prospecting, navigation–the list is endless–would be practicable without maps. And never has this role been more vital than it is today. Humanity faces severe problems, many of them environmental in nature, and effective mapping is crucial if solutions are to be found.

In conjunction with the great data gathering capabilities and analytical power of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), cartography, in many instances, provides the key to finding solutions. A second, overriding characteristic of cartography today is its dynamic nature. The cartographic discipline is in the throes of a revolution, brought about in large measure by advances in technology and, in particular, by the impact of the computer. Map-making has always been affected by technological change, but the recent transformation of cartography has been unprecedented in scope compared with previous evolutionary changes. While former pen and ink techniques for map-making are still found in isolated use, today’s cartographer is more likely to be found seated at a terminal using the very latest in computer hardware and graphic software. In most cases, without any loss in image quality, maps are generated faster with less cost than before, not to mention with even more enjoyment for the map-maker! In essence, the computer equips the cartographer with unparalleled control over the mapping process. Follow: What is Cartography? - Definition & History | Study.com What is Cartography?

- Definition & History Watch short & fun videos Start Your Free Trial Today Instructor: Josh Corbat Josh has taught Earth Science and Physical Science at the High School level and holds a Master of Education degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. Add to Add to Add to Want to watch this again later? Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Custom Courses are courses that you create from Study.com lessons. Use them just like other courses to track progress, access quizzes and exams, and share content. Teachers Organize and share selected lessons with your class. Make planning easier by creating your own custom course. Students Create a new course from any lesson page or your dashboard. From any lesson page: Click "Add to" located below the video player and follow the prompts to name your course and save your lesson. From your dashboard: Click on the "Custom Courses" tab, then click "Create course". Next, go to any lesson page and begin adding lessons. Edit your Custom Course directly from your dashboard. Personalize: Name your Custom Course and add an optional description or learning objective. Organize: Create chapters to group lesson within your course. Remove and reorder chapters and lessons at any time. Share your Custom Course or assign lessons and chapters.

Teacher Edition: Share or assign lessons and chapters by clicking the "Teacher" tab on the lesson or chapter page you want to assign. Students' quiz scores and video views will be trackable in your "Teacher" tab. Premium Edition: You can share your Custom Course by copying and pasting the course URL. Only Study.com members will be able to access the entire course. Like this lesson Share It is hard to imagine how difficult our lives would be without maps. Even something as simple as locating a store in a shopping mall is made easier by referring to a map. In this lesson, we'll discuss cartography (the study of mapmaking) and its history. What is Cartography? You're on a mission. It's the day before your mother's birthday and you haven't bought her a gift yet. You know exactly what to get her: A new candle from her favorite candle store. You drive to the mall, park your car where you normally do (your favorite stores are on this end), and walk inside. You then realize that you have no idea where the candle store is. What do you do next? Ask someone for directions? Never! Your pride couldn't take the hit. Wander around the mall until you find the store?

Sure, you could do that, but it's a big mall and it could take a long time. You suddenly realize the perfect solution. Look at the map of the mall! Using the map, you can find the store in no time. You're well on your way to earning favorite child status. Maps make our lives infinitely easier. From finding our way around town, or finding a store in a shopping mall, maps simplify the physical world. It is not easy to make a map, however. There are countless measurements to be made, lines to be drawn, and all of it must be done with painstaking accuracy. It is no wonder the practice of mapmaking is a complex one. Cartography is both the practice of making, as well as the study of, maps. Cartographers generally either study the history of mapmaking, or use tools and techniques to make new maps. Many take on both roles. It is common for cartographers to have a broad knowledge base of both mapmaking history and the latest techniques. History of Cartography The history of cartography is incredibly complex. Some cartographers argue about the earliest known maps, and new discoveries are made quite often regarding major advances throughout time.

The earliest maps may have been made as early as 7000 BCE. Some cartographers claim that the earliest map was of the city of Çatalhöyük and was painted on the wall of a cave. Since then, maps evolved over time and had many uses. Some maps simply showed the elevations and terrain of an area. Others showed landmarks like lakes and rivers. An early map drawn on a slab of rock. This map was made as early as the 4th millennium BCE. Many early maps relied heavily on the stars and their positions to determine direction. In particular, the North Star, Polaris, was used as an accurate indicator of the direction north. It has been a tradition in cartography to use north as the topmost direction on a map. × Cartography Cartography Cartography Cartography Cartography is the art and skill of map making. It's a growing field due to the increasing interest in accurate, digital geographic information. Education is readily available, so read on to learn about becoming a cartographer. Inside Cartography Cartographers, or mapmakers, collect spatial data and map the Earth's continually changing surface for a variety of purposes in business, government, science and industry.

Cartographers usually have bachelor's degrees in fields such as engineering, geography, forestry or one of the physical sciences. Job prospects are promising due to advances in and use of GIS and remote sensing technologies. Education Information Cartographers typically earn a 4-year bachelor's degree in geography or a physical science with an emphasis in cartography or GIS; students can also choose a 2-year associate's degree in GIS. Those interested in advancement or increased specialization can earn a postgraduate degree in geography or a closely related field. Master's degrees typically require two additional years of study beyond a bachelor's degree, while doctoral degrees can take 3-5 additional years. Several specialties exist within the field of cartography, including GIS, which is increasingly popular. GIS specialists use geographic software systems to compile, store, analyze and map spatial data in digital form. Photogrammetry consists of map creation based on remote sensing technology such as satellites. Map editors verify and update the content of maps. Degree Options Cartography: Introduction, History, and Uses | EnvironmentalScience.org Cartography: More Than a View From Above What is Cartography? In North America, students may major in Cartography but also approach the subject from geography and surveying.

In Europe, cartographers tend to enter into a mapping career through earth sciences (which includes geography and geology), geophysics, land surveying, civil engineering and even graphic design. Master's Degrees are typically required these days, especially if the individual wants to enter into a specialist area, and post-graduate students will be expected to have some experience with GIS software. In the next few years, a background in surveying or GIS is expected to become essential to any career in mapping. Cartography is the creation and the study of maps and charts - the difference being that maps apply to land and charts are for marine areas (9, p299). It has a long tradition going back at least 4000 years; inextricably tied to geography for most of its history, in the 20th century it has diversified as it becomes more relevant in an increasingly digital modern world. Despite the advent of GIS, the two disciplines are not competing with each other, but complementing each other through a cross-disciplinary approach. It isn't just about the compilation or the process of mapping, but also the history of maps.

Who doesn't enjoy looking at what the world's borders or even their local area looked like 100 years ago? This is a valuable source for a wide range of academic disciplines. It stands on its own as raw data, but it can also tell you much about the people who compiled the map (1). Why was it compiled? How was it drawn? What was the motive for compiling it? Has it been embellished, and how? It may come as a surprise to think that maps can be and have been used for political propaganda (2, p207-8) but it is information that can be used by people to tell us what they want us to know. Like any other source of official information, they can be used to tell us what we need to know, and for others to tell us what they want us to know. History To the Renaissance Mapping in early civilizations such as Mesopotamia and Egypt were linked to astronomy and what we then knew about the stars and about geometry and surveying (1). This information was vital to far more than mapping too; by plotting the heavens, leaders could organize society around the growing seasons.

Surveying permitted the building of huge monuments, to plot how much land people owned and charge them tax. It is said the most efficient government documents are often the tax records and this is no less true now than it was then. The discipline seemed to change little between then and the eras of Greek civilization and Rome though the pinnacle of cartography during the Roman Empire was the map of the Roman world produced by Claudius Ptolemaeus. He produced a map of what he called “The Old World” (as it was then) and published a book called Geographike Hyphygesis (Guide to Geography) which would remain the primary authority in Europe for the next 1400 years (3). Great strides were made in China (4) and the Islamic world (5) but the reason for compiling them were often the same as the reasons they were compiled in Europe. That is, for political purposes to show the importance of the person or the country compiling them, to show the country or people in relation to the rest of the world, or predominance in relation to religious centers. During the Islamic expansion into Spain, maps in the Islamic world showed just how close to Christian Europe the religion had spread (6, p47-8).

A special note about China is required here: in 1579, it was the first country to develop a grid system to plot maps and these were highly accurate compared to their contemporaries in Europe and the Islamic world (10). In Europe, Jerusalem for example would have been shown at the center of the planet and the east would have been placed at the top (this is for religious reasons as the east was said to be closer to God - Jerusalem being east of most European powers such as Spain, France and England) (3). Here, we see how social attitudes affect map making way before it became a science. Why do we see a veritable explosion of cartography during the Renaissance? For a number of reasons: Though it still remained subjective, is was well on its way to becoming a science (6, p45-46) and its uses were increasingly becoming recognized The discovery of the new world was a fierce battleground for the powers looking to claim as much of the land for themselves as they could.

Growing imperialism was as much about documenting claims to new lands as it was about making the physical claim on the ground The printing press made the process of publishing maps - as it had with literature - easier than it had been before when every map had to be produced and reproduced by hand. The printing press would change much about world society (7) Growing sense of nationalism and national destiny, rather than fealty to local lords and duchies, could be fueled by and in turn fuel imperialist expansionism Those in power realized how useful maps could be in fostering and manipulating attitudes of the educated and uneducated alike. As a visual medium, the impact is immediate. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words The Modern Era Modern cartography as we would understand it today began in the late 18th century (10). Interestingly, the development of cartography as a science - working it down even to small areas and attempting to create visual representations of land on a wide scale - is less to do with study for study's sake that other sciences developed from, but out of warfare. Topography has long been understood as an important aspect of infantry attacks and defense.

Battles and wars can be won or lost based on how a commander chooses to position his units on the battlefield (9, p299-300). The hopelessly outnumbered English archers at Crecy showed how topography may be used to advantage of an outnumbered force. The basic philosophy in calculated how to use an navigate a landscape via maps is useful in aid and relief efforts following natural disasters - the lay of the land can be vital to saving lives and even how those approaching an area can best get to the destination. Today, national organisations such as Ordnance Survey in the UK produce a variety of maps for different reasons and there is a much greater focus on accuracy and the transmittal of relevant information - depending on the type of map produced and the type of map needed. Cartography is a global discipline. At the beginning of the 20th century, aerial photography changed the face of mapping once more and we saw accurate measurements as a matter of course. However, that is not to say that all maps in the modern era are entirely about accurate portrayal of national boundaries or local topography; the Soviets, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany all used maps to foster a sense of national pride to justify their expansionism.

Mapping has been in the hands of authorities for several hundred years - governments, religious institutions, academics and others with the expertise and knowledge to produce them (8). As with many other things, it is the internet, the open source approach of modern digital data, lower cost of the software used to produce maps and courses to learn GIS (modern digital mapping) means that we are seeing a growth of available information arguably not seen since the advent of the printing press. Some have hailed the end of traditional map making with open sourcing and outsourcing, but local knowledge remains vital and people will always need maps. Cartography may need to diversify, and GIS will arguably complement and not replace it (11). Amateur map making compiling local data is easier than it has ever been, and may provide a useful source in future, but digital media is unlikely to render paper maps obsolete. Cartographic Propaganda: The Politics of Mapping Undoubtedly, maps have been used for political ends. Even as a primary data set, they can be manipulated to tell people what you want them to know.

In fascist Italy where the geopolitical journal Geopolitica was produced between 1939 and 1942 (13, p1), this is the most famous case of cartography and geography as propaganda. This journal received a lot of government support and therefore was largely influential in the revisionist approach to history seen throughout the fascist world of the 20th century, and arguably the same sort of arguments and information produced by propagandists today. The techniques of cartographic propaganda are well known and well understood (14). We also see similar instances of maps influencing national thought in Nazi Germany and Communist Russia (15). Even the color of the nations in a world map can foster ideas about the country being highlighted (13, p11) - for example, Britain and her Commonwealth were painted a sickly yellow by Nazi Germany, suggesting a country lumbering towards its death whereas the Axis Powers were a healthy red color. The Allied Powers were not immune to this either, Frank Capra himself compiled a map for the US public to influence the notion that Nazi Germany and her allies were a threat to the US (15).

World War II would not be the first or the last time a propaganda war would include maps - something that may otherwise seem innocuous (and perhaps, were used for that reason) can be highly influential when pitched in the right way to the right audience. The Franco-Prussian war is said to have been as fought “as much by maps as by weapons” by the President of the American Geography Society (13, p31). Today though, maps are more likely to show us erroneous information than be outright deceitful. For example, crime statistics need to be adjusted for population density to avoid showing misleading information. What Next For Traditional Cartography? Some have pronounced traditional cartography dead (16) in the light of modern technologies such as GIS, which require more IT knowledge than actual mapping knowledge - mapping knowledge that may be taught. We need to be cautious because though GIS permits graduates from a wider range of disciplines to enter into the field, GIS technicians do require more than a mere basic knowledge of how to use and manipulate a map and having a background in cartography is certainly an advantage.

Today, a point on a map is not just a point of interest - it is a data point, a node, a vector or a pixel that can represent a fundamental shift in a cartographer's thinking, but it is not impossible (17). When achieved, cartographers are able to find they can gather more data, do far more with the data they are gathering and work with it much faster. Sources Cartography - Maps, Atlases, Aerial Images, and Cartographic Resources - Research Guides at UCLA Library Maps, Atlases, Aerial Images, and Cartographic Resources Subjects: Economics , Environment & Sustainability , Geography , Government & Law What Is Cartography? The production and study of maps and charts. Cartography is a system of information which is used to communicate something of the real world to other people; the map is a model, to be decoded by the map reader; see Lloyd (1989) AAAG 79,1.

All maps are approximations; their clean lines and colours don't reflect the muddled nature of the reality they represent, and they can easily be used to support a point of view; ‘a whole arsenal of devices may be used for [persuasive cartography]…to influence opinion rather than to inform the reader’ ( N. Thrower 1996 ). So that the reader is not distracted by ‘noise’—anything which stands in the way of understanding—the map has to be encoded using easily understandable signs, symbols, lettering, and lines; see Board and Taylor ( 1977 ) TIBG 2, 1. F. Farinelli ( 1989 ) observed that reason ‘is nothing more than the protocol of…the cartographic image…the history of geography is the history of the confusion between the model and the reality’. See J. Pickles ( 2004 ) and C. Jacob ( 2006 ). - Definition from: "Cartography" A Dictionary of Geography. Susan Mayhew. Oxford University Press 2009 Oxford Reference. Oxford University Press. UC - Los Angeles.

16 November 2010 Available online Cartography Geography and maps, an illustrated guide Online publication from the Library of Congress World: General and thematic maps.

Series include: International Map of the World (IMW) 1:1,000,000; Jet Navigation Charts (JNC) 1:2,000,000; Operational Navigation Charts (ONC) 1:1,000,000; Tactical Pilotage Charts (TPC) 1:500,000 North America: General and thematic maps Canada: General and thematic maps of all of Canada and its provinces United States: General and thematic maps of the entire country, its regions, individual states, counties, and urban areas United States Geological Survey topographic maps for the entire United States at the scales of 1:250,000 and 1:100,000; for California at the scales of 1:24,000 and 1:62,500 United States National Ocean Service nautical and aeronautical charts Los Angeles and Orange Counties: Aerial photographs at various scales from the mid-1960s forward Los Angeles County: United States Geological Survey 6 minute series 1:24,000 (1924 – 1951)

 Los Angeles City Sanborn Insurance Maps (1906 - 1952) Large scale 1:1,200 topographic maps with building footprints of the Santa Monica Mountains Area (1959), Sunland-Tujunga-Verdugo Mountains Area (1968), North East Los Angeles Area (1969), Sylmar-Granada Hills-Chatsworth Area (1970), Chatsworth Reservoir-Canoga Park-Knapp Ranch Area (1971), Baldwin Hills-Westchester-Playa del Rey Area (1972), San Pedro Area (1972), LA Freeway Downtown Loop Area East of San Pedro St.

(1973), Central LA Area-Bunkerhill and Business District (1975), and Benedict Canyon Area (1961) Mexico: Selected topographic map series, thematic, and general maps of the entire country, its regions, individual states, and urban areas Latin America, Central America, Caribbean, South America: Selected topographic map series, thematic, and general maps of regions, individual countries, and their respective administrative and urban areas Europe: Selected topographic map series, thematic, and general maps of the continent, regions, individual countries, and their respective administrative and urban areas Asia: Selected topographic map series, thematic, and general maps of the continent, regions, individual countries, and their respective administrative and urban areas Australia; Selected topographic map series, thematic, and general maps of the entire country, its regions, individual states, and urban areas Oceans: Selected topographic map series, thematic, and general maps of all the oceans, specific oceans, and their respective island groups Antarctica: Selected topographic map series, thematic, and general maps of the entire continent Historical: Maps (pre-1946) that span the globe Glossary Projection Azimuth: Horizontal direction reckoned clockwise from the meridian plane.

Contour: Imaginary line on ground, all points of which are at the same elevation above or below a specific datum. Contour interval: Difference in elevation between two adjacent contours. Coordinates: Linear and (or) angular quantities that designate the position of a point in relation to a given reference frame. Datum (pl. datums): In surveying, a reference system for computing or correlating the results of surveys. There are tow principal types of datums: vertical and horizontal. A vertical datum is a level surface to which heights are referred. In the United States, the generally adopted vertical datum for leveling operations is the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. The horizontal datum is used as a reference for position. The North American Datum of 1927 is defined by the latitude and longitude of an initial point (Meade's Ranch in Kansas), the direction of a line between this point and a specified second point, and two dimensions that define the spheroid. The new North American Datum of 1983 is based on a newly defined spheroid (GRS80); it is an Earth-centered datum having no initial point or initial direction.

Elevation: Vertical distance of a point above or below a reference surface or datum. Grid: Network of uniformly spaced parallel lines intersecting at right angles. When superimposed on a map, it usually carries the name of the projection used for the map- that is, Lambert grid, transverse Mercator grid, universal transverse Mercator grid. Imagery: Visible representation of objects and (or) phenomena as sensed or detected by cameras, infrared and multispectral scanners, radar, and photometers. Recording may be on photographic emulsion (directly as in a camera or indirectly after being first recorded on magnetic tape as an electrical signal) or on magnetic tape for subsequent conversion and display on a cathode ray tube. Latitude: Angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds of a point north or south of the Equator. Longitude: Angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds, of a point east or west of the Greenwich meridian. Map projection: Orderly system of lines on a plane representing a corresponding system of imaginary lines on an adopted terrestrial or celestial datum surface. Also, the mathematical concept for such a system.

For maps of the Earth, a projection consists of 1) a graticule of lines representing parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude or 2) a grid. Map series: Family of maps conforming generally to the same specifications and designed to cover an area or a country in systematic pattern. Meridian: Great circle on the surface of the Earth passing through the geographical poles and any given point on the Earth's surface. All points on a given meridian have the same longitude. Origin of coordinates: Point in a system of coordinates that serves as a zero point in computing the system's elements or in prescribing its use. Prime meridian: Meridian of longitude 0 degrees, used as the origin for measurements of longitude. The meridian of Greenwich, England, is the internationally accepted prime meridian on most charts. However, local or national prime meridians are occasionally used. Quadrangle: Four-sided area, bounded by parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude used as an area unit in mapping (dimensions are not necessarily the same in both directions). Also, a geometric figure of significance in geodetic surveying. Scale: Relationship existing between a distance on a map, chart, or photograph and the corresponding distance on the Earth.

Survey: Orderly process of determining data relating to any physical or chemical characteristics of the Earth. The associated data obtained in a survey. An organization engaged in making a survey. Topography: Configuration (relief) of the land surface; the graphic delineation or portrayal of that configuration in map form, as by contour lines; in oceanography the term is applied to a surface such as the sea bottom or surface of given characteristics within the water mass. Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid: Military grid system based on the transverse Mercator projection, applied to maps of the Earth's surface extending from the Equator to 84 Degrees north and 80 degrees south latitudes National Atlas Articles Informative articles about the geography of America Scale is the relationship between distance on the map and distance on the ground. A map scale usually is given as a fraction or a ratio—1/10,000 or 1:10,000.These "representative fraction" scales mean that 1 unit of measurement on the map—1 inch or 1 centimeter—represents 10,000 of the same units on the ground.

If the scale were 1:63,360, for instance, then 1 inch on the map would represent 63,360 inches, or 1 mile, on the ground (63,360 inches divided by 12 inchesequals 5,280 feet, or 1 mile). The first number (map distance) is always 1. The second number (ground distance) is different for each scale; the larger the second number is, the smaller the scale of the map. "The larger the number, the smaller the scale" sounds confusing, but it is easy to understand. A map of an area 100 miles long by 100 miles wide drawn at a scale of 1:63,360 would be more than 8 feet square. To make the map a more convenient size, either the scale used or the area covered must be reduced. Many areas have been mapped at different scales. The most important consideration in choosing a map is its intended use. A town engineer, for instance, may need a very detailed map to locate precise sewers, power and water lines, and streets.

A commonly used scale for this purpose is 1:600 (1 inch on the map represents 50 feet on the ground). This scale is so large that many features—such as buildings, roads, and railroad tracks—can be drawn to scale instead of being represented by symbols. - United States Geological Survey A map projection is a way to represent the curved surface of the Earth on the flat surface of a map. Map projections allow us to represent some or all of the Earth's surface, at a wide variety of scales, on a flat, easily transportable surface, such as a sheet of paper. There are hundreds of different map projections. The process of transferring information from the Earth to a map causes every projection to distort at least one aspect of the real world—either shape, area, distance, or direction. The appropriate projection for a map depends on the scale of the map, and on the purposes for which it will be used. For example, a projection may have unacceptable distortions if used to map the entire country, but may be an excellent choice for a large-scale (detailed) map of a county. Projections defined by distortion characteristics: An equal area, or equivalent projection maintains accurate relative sizes.

A conformal projection such as the Mercator maintains angular relationships and accurate shapes over small areas. These projections are used where angular relationships are important, such as for navigational or meteorological charts. An equidistant projection maintains accurate distances from the center of the projection or along given lines. These projections are used for radio and seismic mapping, and for navigation. A zenithal projection maintains accurate directions (and therefore angular relationships) from a given central point. These projections are used for aeronautical charts and other maps where directional relationships are important. Projections defined by developable surface: A cylindrical projection projects information from the spherical Earth to a cylinder. The cylinder may be either tangent to the Earth along a selected line, or may be secant (intersect the Earth) along two lines. Imagine that once the Earth's surface is projected, the cylinder is unwrapped to form a flat surface. The lines where the cylinder is tangent or secant are the places with the least distortion. A conic projection projects information from the spherical Earth to a cone that is either tangent to the Earth at a single parallel, or that is secant at two standard parallels. Once the projection is complete, the cone is unwrapped to form a flat surface.

The lines where the cone is tangent or secant are the places with the least distortion. A polyconic projection uses a series of cones to reduce distortion. A planar projection projects information to a plane. The plane may be either tangent or secant. Cartography | Article about cartography by The Free Dictionary Cartography | Article about cartography by The Free Dictionary see map map, conventionalized representation of spatial phenomena on a plane surface. Unlike photographs, maps are selective and may be prepared to show various quantitative and qualitative facts, including boundaries, physical features, patterns, and distribution. ..... Click the link for more information. . Cartography the science of geographic maps and methods for their compilation and use. This definition of cartography, the most widespread one, reflects its technical aspects. At the same time, the modern view of geographic maps as graphic figurative-symbolic models of space leads to a stricter definition of the subject and method of cartography: the science of the representation and study of the spatial arrangements, combinations, and interrelationships of the phenomena of nature and society (and their changes over time) by means of cartographic pictures, which reproduce particular aspects of reality.

This definition includes within cartography maps of celestial bodies and of the heavens, globes, relief maps, and other spatial models that use cartographic symbols. The subject of cartography (the spatial arrangement, combinations, and relationships of phenomena) and the development of topical maps are increasingly allying it with the natural sciences. The term “cartography” is also applied to scientific and industrial cartographic activity and to its results —for example, state cartography. It is in this sense that the term is included in the name of the cartographic and geodetic service of the USSR (the Central Administration for Geodesy and Cartography of the Council of Ministers of the USSR). Present-day cartography includes the following branches: (1) The theoretical foundations of the science, including the teaching of the subject and methods of cartography and map theory (or, more completely, the theory of the cartographic representation of reality). The latter includes the theory of cartographic projections and the theory of generalization and methods of representation (the system of symbols). It considers types and kinds of maps and their classification and analysis. (2) The history of cartographic science and map-making.

(3) The study of cartographic sources (systematic survey and analysis of cartographic sources and relevant questions of scientific information theory). (4) The theory and technology of drafting and preparing maps. (5) The theory and methods of using maps. The problems of cartography arose during various periods of history and are in different stages of development. This has been reflected in the breakdown of cartography into separate disciplines: map studies, mathematical cartography, the compilation and design (or drafting) of maps, and the production of finished maps; cartometry is sometimes treated as a special discipline. In its present state, map studies includes the theoretical foundations of the science, its history, study of sources, and methods of using maps. Mathematical cartography, or the theory of cartographic projections, was the first to be established as a special discipline. Cartometry—the teaching of the use of maps to measure and compute coordinates, distances, lengths, elevations, and areas— has a long history; obviously, it constitutes just one method of using maps, but it is often used independently because of its practical importance and the antiquity and abundance of research.

The theory and technology of drafting and making original maps has developed vigorously in the USSR under the name “compilation and design of maps.” The task of map-making includes the study and development of the means of representation in cartography, using data from semiotics, color studies, and engineering psychology, as well as methods of the graphic arts, and taking into account printing requirements. The uniqueness of particular types of maps—for example, geologic, soil, economic, and other maps based on the data of the corresponding sciences (geology, soil science, economic geography, and so on)—and the particular features of the compilation of such maps led to the development and separation of topical divisions of cartography: geologic cartography, soil cartography, economic cartography, and so on. These borderline disciplines belong to cartography according to method, but according to the content of the maps they belong to other sciences. Special training for cartographers also includes map publication (study of the development of methods for reproducing and duplicating maps) and the economics and organization of map-making. However, the former, which is based primarily on the physicochemical and technical sciences, belongs to typography, whereas the latter belongs to the economics of various fields of science and engineering.

The oldest surviving cartographic pictures were made in Babylon and Egypt in the third to first millennia b.c.The first scientific foundations of cartography were laid in ancient Greece, where geographic maps were made that took into account the spherical shape of the earth. Ptolemy’s famous Geography (second century a.d.) was essentially a manual for the compilation of geographic maps. It included a map of the world and 16 maps of large subdivisions of the earth. The development of trade, navigation, and colonization in the age of the Renaissance and great geographic discoveries (15th and 16th centuries) aroused great demand for geographic maps, particularly world maps, which required the development of new cartographic projections and led to a general advancement of cartography. Medieval cartography attained its greatest development in the works of G. Mercator, whose atlas of 1595 is well known. The establishment of scientific cartography in Russia dates to the 18th century and is related primarily to the activity of the Geography Department of the Academy of Sciences, where the first complete Atlas Rossiiskoi (Russian Atlas) was prepared and published in 1745. In the 19th century military interests led to the need for detailed maps of terrain.

In this period cartography was either considered to be a branch of geodesy or was restricted in its scientific interest to cartographic projections and, partially, to methods of measurement from maps—that is, to specific and relatively narrow mathematical problems. At the same time, the differentiation of sciences and practical needs in the second half of the 19th century brought about the development of many different topical maps (geologic, climatic, soil, and economic). The purely geometric treatment of cartography at this time hindered its development. New views of cartography took root earliest in the USSR, where the planned economy required multifaceted mapping of the country. As early as the 1930’s cartography came to be understood as the science of the methods and processes of compilation and reproduction of maps, which was a progressive idea in comparison with the previous concept of cartography. However, the study of the essence of maps and developing methods for their use remained in the shadow. The creation of major cartographic works in the USSR (among them the Great Soviet World Atlas) required that this gap be filled and that corresponding areas of cartography be developed. This led to the definition of the science that was cited at the beginning of this article.

Letters written in 1920–21 by V. I. Lenin concerning preparation of the first Soviet geographic atlases, as well as other documents written by Lenin on questions of cartography, were of great value to the development of the ideological and scientific foundations of Soviet cartography. Specifically, they emphasize the importance of a complete, reliable, and graphic representation of phenomena in all their aspects, interrelations, historical development, and contradictions. Cartography is closely associated with geodesy and the geographic sciences. Geodesy provides exact data on the shape and dimensions of the earth, and topography and aerial photographic topography provide the primary cartographic sources—the large-scale topographical maps that are the initial basis for all geographic maps. The geographic sciences give the cartographer the knowledge necessary for making sound choices of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the phenomena being mapped and for their correct depiction, with due regard for regional features. In turn, the maps are an effective tool in geography, as in other sciences, for the study of the spatial arrangement, combinations, and interrelationships of all natural and social phenomena.

The practical importance of cartography is determined by the value and uniqueness of geographic maps as graphic and exact spatial models that are widely used in the national economy, in culture and education, and for defense. Maps are produced either as the result of field surveys and the processing of data from them or in offices and laboratories by the use and revising of various sources, such as cartographic, geographic, economic, and statistical data. The methods of field surveying and data processing are the subject of topography and aerial photographic topography. Topical surveying, such as geologic and soil surveying, is a task of the particular kind of cartography (geologic or soil). The office and laboratory methods of drafting and making maps are developed in cartography proper. During office work a preliminary program is outlined on the basis of the purpose of the map being drafted: scale, cartographic projection, content (a list of the elements of the content, their classification, and the completeness and detail with which each element is shown), and methods of representation. Next, the necessary sources are selected and the phenomena being mapped are studied in the sources to determine the typical features and characteristics that should be shown on the map.

The final program for the map is prepared by considering the results of this work. Work on graphic preparation of the original of the map (the compilation processes) follows. These processes include construction of the cartographic grid, complete or selective transfer of the content of the sources to it, generalization, and drawing of the original in the cartographic symbols established by the program. In the compilation of topical maps, the content of the sources is transferred to previously prepared or selected geographic positions. In the process of preparing a map for publication the base sheet of the map is often used to make (by lining or engraving on plastic) secondary smooth-delineation maps as fair copies to ensure the production of high-quality press plates. Preparation of the map ends with the publishing processes, as a result of which the map is printed in the required number of copies. In modern cartographic production, a group of specialists with various qualifications usually participates in the production of a map. Therefore, standardized scientific and technical supervision is needed in all stages of preparation of the map, including publication. This supervision is customarily called the editing of the map. International scientific ties in cartography first formed and developed within the framework of the international geographic congresses.

Specifically, it was on their initiative that the Washington conference to select a uniform prime meridian was convened (the 1871 congress in Antwerp) and that the International 1:1,000, 000 Map and the International Bathymetric Map of the Oceans were compiled (the 1891 congress in Bern and the 1899 congress in Berlin, respectively). The formation in 1922 of the International Geographical Union, which, in addition to geographic congresses, organizes international commissions to work on the most important scientific problems, also promoted expanded research on cartography (national and regional comprehensive atlases, population mapping, land use maps, and international geomorphological maps). Finally, the formation in 1961 of the International Cartographic Association ensured systematic study of the problems of cartography based on cooperation among interested countries (convening scientific and technical conferences every two years and regular work by special commissions).

The UN cartographic conferences that have met once every three years for the countries of Asia and the Far East (since 1955) and for the countries of Africa (since 1963) are important for the improvement of cartography in the developing countries. A particularly important recent international initiative is the International Map of the World, on a scale of 1:2, 500, 000, which has hypsometric representation of relief and gives a comparable picture of the continents and the world ocean (the map is being prepared by the cartographic and geodetic services of Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Rumania, the USSR, and Czechoslovakia). The current development of cartography is reflected in the rapid rise in the number of scientific journals and collections of periodicals dealing with cartography. REFERENCES Cartography | Definition of Cartography by Merriam-Webster Spanish Central: Translation of cartography Nglish: Translation of cartography for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cartography Seen and Heard What made you want to look up cartography? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Cartography Degree, Online Cartography Degree Master of Fine Arts in Media Design What is Cartography? Cartography is the study and practice of how to go about making maps. It involves aesthetics, various techniques, and science to be able to communicate spatial information in a cohesive and effective manner. Why become a Cartographer? Career as a cartographer can be both dynamic and highly rewarding. You would get to understand the geography of many different regions and then use tools and software to accurately map them out. Becoming a cartographer can be an enjoyable career option for people who enjoy geography, are good at understanding different types of computer software, and are artistically or creatively inclined. It is an interdisciplinary field which is anything but routine; individuals in this profession are constantly mapping out new regions or modifying existing maps. Types of maps a cartographer creates A cartographer can work to create many different types of maps.

Some of these include: Maritime charts Satellite navigation maps The work of a cartographer As a professional cartographer, some of the activities and responsibilities you may be required to carry out include: Carry out topographic surveys of land Use geographical information systems (GIS) to model landscapes and features Determine the height and positioning of various landscape features using aerial photographs Work with surveyors and designers when making maps Ensure that maps and charts are accurate and to scale Collect data and analyze it from satellites, planes, etc. Design different types of maps in different mediums Constantly edit maps as geographic features and landscapes change Use special mapping software How long does it take to become a cartographer? The time it takes to become a cartographer will vary from person to person. Firstly, you must consider what your particular career goals and aspirations are and how much time you are willing to spend on getting an education. In some cases, it may be possible to seek work as a cartographer after the completion of your bachelor’s degree. You will be required to gain some experience and with time, you may be able to work as a full time cartographer. Bachelor’s programs take 4 years to complete and master’s programs take about 2 years to complete.

You will also need to factor in some time which you will need to allocate to practical experience. Degree’s in cartography Bachelor’s in Cartography Those individuals interested in pursuing cartography may enroll in a bachelor’s program with a major or concentration in cartography or a degree in geography or surveying. These programs include both class-room components as well as practical laboratory components. Students can expect to get an introduction to all the key components of geography and mapping, also on how to use software and different tools to map. Bachelor’s degree programs typically take 4 years to complete. Entry Requirements High school diploma with an acceptable GPA Good SAT and ACT scores – the precise score may be determined by the university you are applying to Letters of recommendation It is recommended that you have taken courses in geography in high school Curriculum Throughout the course of the degree, students can expect to learn: Foundational geography Geographic Information Systems Ph.D. in Cartography A Ph.D. in cartography is specifically intended for those who seek to explore the research and academic aspects of the field. Most often, a Ph.D. in geography is pursued with a concentration in cartography. Entry requirements Bachelor’s or master’s degree in cartography or geography Letters of recommendation It is important to note here that entry requirements may vary.

Every school and program has its own set of requirements. Students must satisfy all the entry requirements to be considered as a candidate. Job prospects and Salary With a degree in cartography, one may choose to pursue the following careers: Civil engineer Cartographer Geographic information specialist Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that in 2012, the following professionals earned an annual median salary of: Cartographers and Photogrammetrists - $57,440 Surveying and Mapping Technicians - $39,670 Surveyors - $56,230 Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate - $49,540 The cartographer profession looks especially promising with BLS forecasting a 20% employment growth in the field between 2012 and 2022. Cartography is concerned with geographic information and the translation of that information into the form of maps. The study of cartography involves history, geography, math, and aesthetic awareness. There are a number of different educational options to pursue if you are interested in this field. In addition, with a degree in cartography, there are a number of different career paths you may be able to choose.

8 out of 10 based on 8 rating(s) Q:What is the career outlook with a degree in cartography? A:According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, cartographers earned a median annual income of $57,440 in May 2012. There were a total of 13,800 jobs available for these professionals and the employment for them, along with that of similar professions such as photogrammetrists, was expected to grow 22% between 2012 and 2020. (Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics) Q:By enrolling an online cartography program, what benefits will I get? A:Online program have proved to be flexible and convenient for many students nowadays. High prices and employment have made it difficult for students to pursue college. However, online education is tackling this issue by enabling students to study from any location anytime. This means you can study according to your own pace and schedule. Online learning is also cost-friendly as no text book and travelling expenses are incurred. Q:Can you name a few of the topics covered in an online cartography course?

A:A course in cartography will help you learn about the principles of map-making and design. You will learn about modern cartography that is integrated with geographic information science. The program will typically cover topics such as the following: geomorphology, hydrology, statistics, nature cartography, space cartography, geo-informational systems, map design, and more. Q:A cartography program can be pursued at what levels of post-secondary education? A:Cartography is an academic discipline that explores the principles of map making and designing. This area is offered for study at associate, bachelor, and masters level. Students can also pursue cartography at non-degree level. Each program is designed to provide students with theoretical knowledge and skills needed for a career in cartography. The degree requirements will vary. Q:What can I do with a phd in cartography? A:A PhD in cartography is mostly for individuals who wish to go into teaching or research. You can focus your research on topics of cartography, geovisualization and geovisual analytics with specialization in interactive and web based mapping. You can apply for advanced job positions in organizations. Q:What sort of thesis topics do people work on for masters in cartography?

A:For your thesis as part of a masters program in cartography, you could explore topics such as visual exploration of spatial-temporal traffic congestion patterns using floating car data, artistic decoration in early modern cartography, spatial temporal analysis of social media data; web based visual analysis of 3D lightning data or visual reconstruction of archaeological data on a particular archeological site. Keep in mind that these particular topics have already been worked on. But you can always work on something similar to these. Q:Can you tell me about the course requirements of a cartography masters degree? A:A masters degree in cartography is an advanced level graduate program, designed to prepare students for careers in this field. Students are required to cover all the degree components and earn a minimum number of credit hours. The program will cover a range of topics such as geo-computing, research design, spatial analysis, and environmental modeling. Q:Can I complete a Bachelors in Cartography in less than four years? A:Yes you can. A number of schools are offering accelerated bachelor degree programs in the field of cartography. An accelerated program is designed for students who are looking for a short route to earning a degree.

The coursework is covered in short time span, typically ranging between 1-2 years. Students must work hard and take multiple courses to earn the degree. Ask your Question cartography | geography | Britannica.com Cartography MapQuest Cartography, the art and science of graphically representing a geographical area, usually on a flat surface such as a map or chart. It may involve the superimposition of political, cultural, or other nongeographical divisions onto the representation of a geographical area. The Western Hemisphere in the world map by Franciscus Monachus, from De situ … The Granger Collection, New York A brief treatment of cartography follows. For full treatment, see map . Cartography is an ancient discipline that dates from the prehistoric depiction of hunting and fishing territories. The Babylonians mapped the world in a flattened, disk-shaped form, but Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Ptolemy ) established the basis for subsequent efforts in the 2nd century ce with his eight-volume work Geōgraphikē hyphēgēsis (Guide to Geography) that showed a spherical Earth .

Maps produced during the Middle Ages followed Ptolemy’s guide, but they used Jerusalem as the central feature and placed East at the top. Those representations are often called T-maps because they show only three continents ( Europe , Asia , and Africa ), separated by the “T” formed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile River . More accurate geographical representation began in the 14th century when portolan (seamen’s) charts were compiled for navigation. Ptolemy’s map of the world, as printed at Ulm, Ger., 1482. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. map: The discovery of the New World by Europeans led to the need for new techniques in cartography, particularly for the systematic representation on a flat surface of the features of a curved surface—generally referred to as a projection (e.g., Mercator projection , cylindrical projection , and Lambert conformal projection ). During the 17th and 18th centuries there was a vast outpouring of printed maps of ever-increasing accuracy and sophistication. Systematic surveys were undertaken involving triangulation that greatly improved map reliability and precision.

Noteworthy among the scientific methods introduced later was the use of the telescope for determining the length of a degree of longitude. Similar Topics information processing Modern cartography largely involves the use of aerial and, increasingly, satellite photographs as a base for any desired map or chart. The procedures for translating photographic data into maps are governed by the principles of photogrammetry and yield a degree of accuracy previously unattainable. The remarkable improvements in satellite photography since the late 20th century and the general availability on the Internet of satellite images have made possible the creation of Google Earth and other databases that are widely available online. Satellite photography has also been used to create highly detailed maps of features of the Moon and of several planets in our solar system and their satellites. In addition, the use of geographic information systems (GIS) has been indispensible in expanding the scope of cartographic subjects. Screenshot of Google Earth.

Question: What is cartography the study of
Answer: Map making